Rev. James Andrew Little, D. D., is descended on his father's side from Scotch Presbyterian stock, and on his mother's side from the French Huguenots. He traces his paternal ancestry back to a James Little, who was knighted for bravery on the battlefield of Bannockburn. Thornhill in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, is the ancestral seat; and there lived his grandfather, Andrew Little, an honored elder in the United Presbyterian congregation.

In 1888 the Hokendauqua pastor had the pleasure of visiting the Thornhill mansion, and the church in which his father was publicly baptized in 1817.

The grandmother, Mary Rae Little, was long praying that at least one of her offspring might become a minister of the gospel; which earnest desire of her pious soul was fulfilled in the long and useful career of Dr. J. A. Little. His beloved mother. Mrs. Hannah V. Little, to whose godly influence he attributes so much, passed away to her heavenly reward September 7, 1872. Three years later, in the Scotch Presbyterian Church, 34th street, NY City, Dr. Little had the unusual honor of officiating at his own father's second marriage.


His earlier years were those of the average city boy, except being hampered by such poverty as forced him to earn his living and work his way since his fifteenth year. He attended the public schools and in July 1854 was graduated with high honors from the college of the city of NY. Next, to earn the money needed to study for the ministry, he taught the usual branches in Wooster Street Public School, and also in night school. In May 1859, he was graduated with fifty three other young men from Union theological Seminary. NY, when out of 140 students he was pronounced by a distinguished committee of examiners, one of the three highest in Hebrew language and literature. His first sermon was preached on Sunday, April 17, 1859, in Spring Street Presbyterian church, NY City, the church where he was baptized and where he had made his public profession of faith in Christ, when a college boy of near sixteen. Three words, "Behold he prayeth" (Acts 9, 11) comprised the text of this beginning sermon, which was listened to by audience of over one thousand persons. A post-graduate course at Union Seminary occupied his time mostly for two years more, he being kept busy Sundays, supplying pulpits in city and country, far and near.

However, in June 1861, he accepted an urgent and unexpected call from the Reformed church at Canastota, NY, which some years ago became, and now is, Presbyterian. Having been, since April. 1859, a regular licensed preacher, he was on the night of the first Bull Run Battle. Sunday, July 21, 1861, ordained to the gospel ministry by the Third Presbytery of NY. The ordination sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Samuel D. Burchard, of Rum. Romanism. and Rebellion fame. The other part of the largely attended ordination services were taken by six other prominent Presbyterian clergymen.

In nearly fifty-five years of pulpit work Dr. Little has had but three pastorates: At Canastota,NY; at Perth Amboy, NJ, and at Hokendauqua, PA. Concerning these the NY Observer said editorially some time ago: "In each of these three pastoral charges he made a successful record of which any minister might well be proud." On Sunday afternoons for his first twenty-eight years of his Hokendauqua pastorate, he also preached in the Lock Ridge Presbyterian church at Alburtis, in the Fern Dale Presbyterian church at Fullerton, and to the Union Congregation at fronton: Where his additional labors were crowned with gratifying success.

His well-deserved degree of doctor of Divinity came to him unexpectedly from Lafayette College, Easton, PA At the commencement, June 1887. Many other honors have fallen to his lot. For four successive years he was annually elected President of the Lehigh Valley Christian endeavor Union, which under him grew to a membership of filly four hundred young people. He was a delegate from his denomination attending the Pan-Presbyterian Council, July 1888 in London, England. He has also represented eastern PA at general assemblies in Minneapolis. Omaha Saratoga Springs, and NY City, and at International Christian endeavor Conventions in Montreal, Canada; Cleveland. Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Madison Square Garden NY City, and Detroit Michigan. For forty-four years the Presbytery of Lehigh has every year elected him unanimously to the chairmanship of its important committee of church erection.


Dr. Little is happily married, his faithful wife having been married to him in NY City, Nov. 12, 1868. Basking in the sunshine of a Christian home and a loving congregation, they are blest with excellent children.